Non-coding DNA, which makes up large parts of the genetic makeup of animals and plants, is by no means useless.
This is what research results from the University of Giessen suggest, among other things.
Parasitologists working with Christoph Grevelding and colleagues from Montpellier and Leipzig have found evidence that supposedly "silent" DNA sequences in the genome of the parasitic nematode Schistosoma mansoni have important regulatory functions.
Schistosomes are the causative agents of the dangerous tropical disease schistosomiasis.
The researchers looked at the so-called W elements.
These repeated sections of DNA are distributed across the worms' chromosomes.
Grevelding's team found evidence that RNA is being read from such sequences.
However, this is not translated into proteins - as is the case with normal genes - but could regulate other genes.
In addition, the W elements have the ability to jump from one chromosome to another.
According to Grevelding, this can lead to changes in the genome that can occur from one generation to the next.
The researchers suspect that this could enable the worms to react very quickly to changing environmental conditions.
After all, schistosomes are very successful parasites that can infect various animals as well as humans.
Link to the publication